Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults
Background: Surveying support for various regulatory options relating to e-cigarettes can assist policymakers to identify those that have broad support and are therefore likely to be easier to implement. However, data on support for potential e-cigarette regulations in Australia are limited. To info...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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BioMed Central Ltd
2019
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74017 |
| _version_ | 1848763157817851904 |
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| author | Jongenelis, Michelle Kameron, C. Rudaizky, D. Pettigrew, Simone |
| author_facet | Jongenelis, Michelle Kameron, C. Rudaizky, D. Pettigrew, Simone |
| author_sort | Jongenelis, Michelle |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Surveying support for various regulatory options relating to e-cigarettes can assist policymakers to identify those that have broad support and are therefore likely to be easier to implement. However, data on support for potential e-cigarette regulations in Australia are limited. To inform regulatory efforts, the present study assessed attitudes to the regulation of e-cigarettes among Australian young adults, the most prevalent users of e-cigarettes and therefore the most likely population segment to be affected by e-cigarette regulations. Methods: A total of 1116 Australians aged 18 to 25 years (59% female) completed an online survey where they were presented with various statements relating to the regulation of e-cigarettes and asked to report on the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with each. Statements presented either a restrictive or non-restrictive approach to e-cigarette regulation. Results: Across all statements, 10-22% of respondents responded "don't know" while 23-35% neither agreed nor disagreed, indicating general ambivalence. There was a moderate level of support (33-37%) for regulating e-cigarette sales/use and treating e-cigarettes like tobacco products. Only 20% of respondents were in favour of allowing the use of e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas. Smokers, e-cigarette users, and those who did not believe in the harms associated with e-cigarettes were typically less likely than other respondents to support restrictive approaches. Conclusions: The young Australian adults surveyed were somewhat supportive of restrictions around the sale and use of e-cigarettes, but generally opposed outright bans and any need for a prescription from a medical practitioner. Increasing awareness of the harms associated with the use of e-cigarettes represents a potential strategy to gaining regulatory support. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:59:00Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-74017 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:59:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | BioMed Central Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-740172020-10-13T04:40:55Z Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults Jongenelis, Michelle Kameron, C. Rudaizky, D. Pettigrew, Simone Background: Surveying support for various regulatory options relating to e-cigarettes can assist policymakers to identify those that have broad support and are therefore likely to be easier to implement. However, data on support for potential e-cigarette regulations in Australia are limited. To inform regulatory efforts, the present study assessed attitudes to the regulation of e-cigarettes among Australian young adults, the most prevalent users of e-cigarettes and therefore the most likely population segment to be affected by e-cigarette regulations. Methods: A total of 1116 Australians aged 18 to 25 years (59% female) completed an online survey where they were presented with various statements relating to the regulation of e-cigarettes and asked to report on the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with each. Statements presented either a restrictive or non-restrictive approach to e-cigarette regulation. Results: Across all statements, 10-22% of respondents responded "don't know" while 23-35% neither agreed nor disagreed, indicating general ambivalence. There was a moderate level of support (33-37%) for regulating e-cigarette sales/use and treating e-cigarettes like tobacco products. Only 20% of respondents were in favour of allowing the use of e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas. Smokers, e-cigarette users, and those who did not believe in the harms associated with e-cigarettes were typically less likely than other respondents to support restrictive approaches. Conclusions: The young Australian adults surveyed were somewhat supportive of restrictions around the sale and use of e-cigarettes, but generally opposed outright bans and any need for a prescription from a medical practitioner. Increasing awareness of the harms associated with the use of e-cigarettes represents a potential strategy to gaining regulatory support. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74017 10.1186/s12889-019-6410-4 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ BioMed Central Ltd fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Jongenelis, Michelle Kameron, C. Rudaizky, D. Pettigrew, Simone Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults |
| title | Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults |
| title_full | Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults |
| title_fullStr | Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults |
| title_short | Support for e-cigarette regulations among Australian young adults |
| title_sort | support for e-cigarette regulations among australian young adults |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74017 |